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101
The Goddesse DIANA.
DIANA.
Your prayers are heard, let nothing trouble you,
Fair Celia and her Lover both shal live
And love for ever, their afflictions
Are ended, and I have dissolv'd the charm,
No accident shall henceforth trouble them.
They stir'd up pity in you, now they may
Make you to envy them; search all Records,
You'l find no subject equal to their love.
THERSANDER
, to DIANA.
By what inchantment is thy life restor'd?
Diana
, to Thersander.
By what inchantment do'st thou live again?
The Goddesse continues.
I'l recompense their inexemplar vertues,
And pay the price of their affection;
To consummate their happy Nuptials,
I'l ope my Temple, and assure you all
Of my protection. 'Tis my pleasure also
That the love of the Shepheard Clidamant
Be at the same time crown'd with Hymen's honours,
And that he end his daies with sweet Parthenia,
That henceforth he command in the Isle with her;
My justice hath made choice of them to reign.
102
And dispense you of your obedience to her;
I'l make the power of her Art unusefull;
And free this Island from all future fear,
And danger; but to save her from the Thunder
Of the offended Gods, I will recive her
Into my Temple, which shall be her Sanctuary.
Her Sex hath long enough ruled the Province,
I'l change the order of its Government,
And henceforth it shall be under the power,
And wise administration of a Prince,
Which shall be of the blood of Clidamant
From father unto son.
Melissa seeing the Goddess to ascend.
MELISSA.
I confesse Goddesse,
You do me justice in approving crime
One makes himself a complice: without you,
The Gods, high Soveraigns, Masters, and disposers
Of destiny, would, sure, have punish'd me
With death; I go into your Temple now
To imploy other charms, to wash away
My criminal defilements with my tears
To pray unto the immortal powers, whilst J
Have breath, and so disarm them at your Altars:
But to the end her law may be fulfill'd
In every point, Cleagenor, fail not
To love your Celia.
THERSANDER.
O how redevable
Am I to your rare goodness?
103
Enjoy what you deserve, accept Parthenia,
With her, the crown, and succeed happily.
The rank which I freely resign unto you.
CLIDAMANT.
You command still, and keep your Soveraign rank,
When the raign is conferr'd upon your blood;
And by all my respects, I shall express
That 'tis but in your name that I'l be Master.
PARTHENIA.
Though Heavens kind hand chuseth a husband for me,
Since you allow him, I'l hold him of you,
And will possess no honour here, nor power,
But to express the more my service to you,
And my acknowledgements.
THIMANTES.
Ismenia,
Must we not couple too?
ISMENIA.
Yes, if the Goddess
Had said it; we'l defer our marriage,
Till she descends again.
CLIDAMANT.
Ismenia,
I command in this place now, and J will it.
ISMENIA.
Since you will have it, I accept his vows
Of faithfull service. If Melintus too
Hath shaken of his jealousie, J must
Be reconcil'd with him.
104
Well, J agree to 't,
Let us remain friends.
CLIDAMANT.
Heaven hath promis'd us
That we shall all be happy, let us go
Forthwith unto the Temple to conclude
This triple marriage, and henceforth we shall
Honour this day as a great Festival.
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